In today's Breville Barista Express Impress review I'll be taking a close look at one of the Australian manufacturer's newest offering. A couple of years ago I predicted that hybrid espresso machines like this would become all the rage.
In today’s Breville Barista Express Impress review I’ll be taking a close look at one of the Australian manufacturer’s newest offering. A couple of years ago I predicted that hybrid espresso machines like this would become all the rage.
I feel fairly confident in saying that I was right! I mean, you can now find espresso machines with built-in grinders at a range of prices. And manufacturers are falling over themselves to jump on the bandwagon. Still, it’s Breville that seems to be dominating this particular sector.
I’ve already reviewed a few Breville hybrids, so I kinda know what to expect. However, the Breville Barista Express Impress comes with new features that I was excited to play around with. So much so that I ordered one of these bad boys to test out! Still, before I share my experiences using it, let’s take a first look at what this espresso maker can do.
your new best friend!
Breville Barista Express Impress
Even better than the original
Intuitive user interface
Stainless steel conical burr grinder
Assisted tamping
Stainless steel housing
Rather bulky
Limited steam power
Table of Contents
- Overview
- First Impressions
- FeaturesSize and DesignUser InterfaceGrinderDosingAssisted TampingPortafilterPre-InfusionPID Temperature ControlMicrofoamCup HeightAccessoriesWarranty
- How to Use Drink PreparationObservations
- Cleaning
- Specifications
- Breville Barista Express Impress vs OthersBreville Barista Express Impress vs Breville Barista Touch
- Comparison Chart
- Verdict
- FAQ
Breville Barista Express Impress Review Overview
I’ve said it elsewhere, but it’s worth repeating: I have to hand it to Breville’s marketing department. They’ve successfully identified a niche audience and have really cornered the market. I’m talking about aspiring home baristas who want to experience “third wave coffee” without too much of a learning curve.
Seriously, take a look at Breville’s promotional video for the Barista Express Impress. It’s the perfect blend of ironic and earnest, featuring interviews with an independent roaster and a hipster barista. Breville has even started offering a $50 online espresso masterclass tutorial.
My cynical side sees all this as a giant corporation commodifying third wave coffee culture and cashing in. However, if Breville is convincing folks to abandon mass-market coffee in favor of fairtrade coffee beans from small roasters, where’s the harm?
As with its other espresso machines, the Barista Express Impress has been designed to incorporate what Breville calls the “4 keys formula.” That essentially refers to the correct dose, consistent water temperature, adequate pressure and the ability to create microfoam. In other words, pretty much everything I’d hope for from a machine that costs $699.95!
Breville Barista Express Impress First Impressions
If you’ve checked out my espresso machine reviews, you may have noticed me gushing over Breville’s other offerings. In fact, I’d say the Breville Oracle Touch is one of my favorite machines of all time.
Clearly intended as an improvement on the Barista Express, the Impress shares many of the same features. You’ll still get a stainless steel conical burr grinder, 68 ounce (2 liter) water tank and 54 millimeter portafilter.
However, the manufacturer has increased the number of grind settings to 25, which sounds very promising. During my Breville Barista Express review, I found the limited grind settings to be a real drawback.
Another new development is the so-called Impress Puck System. Not only is there assisted tamping involved here, a prominent LED display offers feedback on your dose. Further, the machine will remember what happened and adjust for next time.
While that all sounds very cool, I tend to approach features like this with a healthy dose of skepticism – pun fully intended! I’ll explain why later in this Breville Barista Express Impress review.
As far as looks go, the Barista Express Impress is instantly recognizable as a Breville machine. The brushed stainless steel housing looks nice and sharp, while the pressure gauge and controls lend the machine a classic vintage vibe. Although this espresso maker is only going to enhance the aesthetics of your kitchen, it does take up quite a bit of space. Let’s just say it’d be best to take measurements before committing.
Breville Barista Express Impress Features
As you’ve probably guessed, there’s a lot that could be said about this amazing machine. Let’s continue this hands-on Breville Barista Express Impress review by looking at the machine’s many features. Incidentally, I’m determined not to make a dumb joke using the words “impress” and “express.” Let’s see if I can actually stick to that!
Size and Design
By home espresso machine standards, the Barista Express Impress is far from the most compact coffee maker I’ve come across. Still, most folks shouldn’t have too much trouble finding a spot for it in their kitchen. Anyway, seeing as this is a hybrid machine, you won’t need extra space for a burr coffee grinder.
With that said, the machine is a towering 16.1 inches (41 centimeters) tall, so fitting it under overhead cabinets could be tricky in some homes. Plus, you’ll need access to the bean hopper and water reservoir on a regular basis.
Overall, I was immediately impressed by this machine’s build quality. In fact, I’d say it represents a significant step up from other Breville machines I’ve reviewed. And that’s saying something. Heck, even the removable water tank feels high-end, and the cup warmer is really spacious.
User Interface
Although the Barista Express Impress might seem a little intimidating, it’s actually quite straightforward. Looking at the machine, there’s the bean hopper, grinder and tamping station on the left and the brew group and steam wand on the right. Remember, Breville has designed this thing to be as user-friendly as possible!
The user interface has a lot going on, but everything is really clear and well-labeled. There are buttons for selecting filter basket size and number of shots, as well as a dial for adjusting the dose manually. Other than that, you’ll see the LED indicator scale that provides feedback on your dose. Take note of the smiley face in the middle – this machine is your friend!
Grinder
As I mentioned earlier in this Breville Barista Express Impress review, the machine is equipped with a stainless steel conical burr grinder with 25 adjustment settings. I’ve had mixed results with integrated grinders like this.
Personally, I’d choose a separate grinder every time. However, I understand the appeal of a fully integrated hybrid machine, and it can work. Even though I found the original Barista Express to be limited, I had high hopes for this improved version.
Anyway, the bean hopper sits on top and holds 8.8 ounces (250 grams) of beans. The hopper has UV tinting to protect the beans, which is a nice touch. However, I would have liked to see a ring pull for removing the lid – that’s a feature I loved about the Breville Smart Grinder Pro.
Below, on the left side of the machine, there’s a chunky grind adjustment dial. At this point, I should remind you to only make changes here when the grinder is running!
Dosing
Call me old-fashioned, but I really like weighing my coffee before brewing. That’s as much the case for pour over and French press as it is for espresso. In fact, my coffee scale is one of my most prized possessions! That’s why the intelligent dosing function on the Breville Barista Express Impress makes me a little uncomfortable. Maybe I’m just a control freak, but leaving the whole dosing thing to the machine just seems wrong.
With that said, Breville can assure us that the Barista Express Impress will provide the ideal dose of between 18 and 22 grams of ground coffee. What’s more, the machine will adjust the dose according to the results of the last shot you pulled. I’ll tell you all about how well this works later in this Breville Barista Express Impress review. However, for now, you should know that there’s a manual dosing option as well.
Assisted Tamping
This Breville Barista Express Impress review is about to get controversial, so brace yourselves! Espresso snobs and hipster purists will tell you that there’s no good alternative to manual tamping. Then again, that’s probably because they imagine there’s no way to replicate their hard-earned “expert” touch.
However, think about it this way: tamping is supposed to be one of the many variables in espresso preparation that’s consistent. And there’s just no way that a human can replicate the exact same amount of pressure every single time.
The Barista Express Impress features an assisted tamping function that supposedly applies 22 pounds (10 kilograms) of pressure each time. If it works as advertised, I’m all for it. I mean, if tamping is taken care of, I have more time to fuss over grind size, water temperature and everything else!
Portafilter
I’m pretty familiar with Breville’s 54mm stainless steel portafilter. The thing has good weight distribution and feels nice and substantial. The Barista Express Impress also comes with single wall and double wall filter baskets.
As you may already know, double wall baskets are designed to be used with pre ground coffee. They regulate pressure and help achieve a decent extraction, no matter the grind consistency. However, you won’t get anywhere close to the complex results you’ll achieve by using freshly ground coffee and single wall baskets. Just sayin’!
Pre-Infusion
No matter which preparation method you’re using, it’s important to dampen the ground coffee slightly before extraction begins. If you’re making pour over this is called the blooming phase, and it’s called pre infusion in espresso preparation.
Why does this matter so much? Well, it allows carbon dioxide to escape from roasted coffee and is crucial in the development of complex aromas.
Like any espresso machine worth its salt, the Breville Barista Express Impress has an automatic pre infusion function. During the first few seconds of the brewing process, it dampens the ground coffee slightly under low pressure. After that, the 15 bar Italian pump kicks in and extraction begins in earnest.
What’s really cool is that you’re able to take over and control the pre infusion time manually. Being the coffee nerd that I am, I really enjoyed playing around with pre infusion times during my testing!
PID Temperature Control
The Barista Express Impress is equipped with a thermocoil heating system, which means you won’t be waiting around for your morning fix. In my experience, a thermocoil will be good to go in around 30 seconds. That sure beats the half-hour you’ll wait for a traditional single boiler machine to heat up.
What’s special about this espresso maker’s heating system is that it’s controlled by a digital PID. This digital controller constantly monitors water temperature, ensuring that water is always delivered at the optimal 200 degrees Fahrenheit (93 degrees Celsius).
As an extra bonus, you’re able to make small adjustments to the water temperature. While newbies probably won’t need to worry about that, more experienced baristas will appreciate having the option. After all, a couple of degrees can make a huge difference to the flavor of your shots, depending on roast date, origin and more.
Microfoam
Thanks to my experience using the manual steam wands on other Breville espresso machines, I knew the Barista Express Impress would deliver. The commercial-style steam wand rotates 360 degrees, allowing you plenty of maneuverability when you’re texturing milk. Plus, there’s a nifty rubber sleeve so you won’t burn your fingers.
The Breville steam wand might not be the most powerful, but it has enough oomph to create silky microfoam. As it happens, I was secretly hoping it’d be an improvement on the original Barista Express steam wand. However, in practice it seemed like Breville hasn’t made any changes here.
Incidentally, I should take a moment to congratulate Breville on including a stainless steel milk pitcher with the machine. That’s something other manufacturers often overlook. Thanks, Breville!
Cup Height
Seeing as this isn’t a super automatic espresso machine, you won’t be able to adjust the spout height. That’s not really a big deal if you’re brewing into espresso cups or latte macchiato glasses. However, you might run into difficulties using a taller travel mug.
During the testing phase of my Breville Barista Express Impress review I used a common hack for brewing into taller cups; namely, removing the drip tray. While that did give me plenty of extra headroom, there’s an unfortunate plastic nodule that makes cup placement awkward. In other words, brewing into a travel mug involved quite the balancing act!
Accessories
I already gave kudos to Breville for including a milk steaming pitcher. The fun doesn’t stop there, though; Breville goes above and beyond when it comes to espresso accessories. Check out what you’ll get with the Barista Express Impress:
Stainless steel milk pitcher
4 x filter baskets
Water filter with holder
Razor precision trimming tool
Cleaning tablets
Allen key
Steam wand cleaning tool
Cleaning disc
Cleaning brush
Descaling powder
Essentially, we’re looking at a complete barista starter kit, which is pretty awesome. By the way, there’s even a drawer located under the machine for storing your stuff. Anything that helps keep my workspace tidy is alright by me.
Warranty
As with all Breville coffee makers, you’ll get a one-year limited warranty with the Barista Express Impress. That’ll cover any manufacturer defects that may arise. Honestly, I’d say you won’t need to worry about anything going wrong – Breville products are known for being reliable and well-made. Still, it doesn’t hurt to know you’re covered.
How to Use the Breville Barista Express Impress Espresso Machine
Earlier in this Breville Barista Express Impress review, I touched on the fact that the machine has been designed to be user friendly. That’s kind of the whole point here. If you’re a beginner barista, all the variables involved in espresso preparation can seem overwhelming. So, a machine that takes care of dosing and tamping, while giving feedback along the way, could be a real bonus.
I’m not about to give you an espresso masterclass here, but I’ll give you a quick rundown on how to use the Barista Express Impress. A little later I’ll share my experiences using it.
First things first, you’ll need to attach the hopper and add coffee beans. Next, install the water filter and fill the reservoir with cold water. Once you’ve done that, plug the machine in and press the power button. The machine will spend around 40 seconds heating up, and once the power button has stopped flashing you’re good to go.
One more thing: before using the machine for the first time, flush it by running a few double shot cycles. Go ahead and purge the steam wand for a few seconds too. Okay, now you really are good to go!
Drink Preparation
Start by placing the filter basket you’ll be using into the portafilter. Then, let the machine know by pressing the FILTER button to select the right size.
Next, insert the portafilter into the grinding cradle and press the DOSE button. Incidentally, now’s the time to adjust the grinder setting, if needed. The manufacturer recommends starting at 16.
Once the grind cycle is completed, the TAMP indicator light will blink. Pull the tamping lever down all the way until the machine beeps at you.
Now you’ll see what the Impress thinks about the dose. You want the smiley face to light up. If you’ve underdosed, the DOSE button will flash again, and you can repeat the process. It’ll add a little more ground coffee and you’ll tamp once more. If the dose is too high, you can use the trimming tool to remove some of the ground coffee from the portafilter.
Purge the group head by pressing the 1 CUP button, then insert the portafilter and lock it in place. Depending on which filter basket you’re using, press either the 1 CUP or 2 CUP button to start brewing.
The machine will begin by pre-infusing for around 8 seconds. Once extraction begins, you’ll see the pressure gauge needle move into the “espresso range” zone.
Ideally, a double shot should take around 25 to 30 seconds, resulting in around 2 ounces of espresso. Anything less than that indicates that your grind was too fine. Conversely, a fast, pale shot that gushes from the portafilter spouts tells you your grind was too coarse.
Once you get comfortable using the Barista Express Impress, you can start playing around with water temperature, pre-infusion times and shot volumes. Everything you need to know about making adjustments can be found in the user manual!
Breville Barista Express Impress Observations
Let me just say that I really wanted the Barista Express Impress to be the espresso machine of my dreams. In practice, though, I found it to be too limiting for my taste. With that said, I could see this new Breville being ideal for novice home baristas.
First the good news: the Barista Express Impress is really quiet in operation and heats up extremely quickly. Plus, the thing is as intuitive and easy to use as I’d hoped. The dose indicator scale works as advertised, and the auto-tamping feature is pretty great. What’s more, grinding and tamping involved no mess whatsoever.
It took me quite a while to dial in my shots. I started at the recommended grind setting of 16, but ended up getting the best results at 11 on the grind scale. Throughout my testing, the machine held my hand, giving feedback on my dose and letting me know when I needed to add or remove coffee from the filter basket. I also appreciated the pressure gauge, which gave me valuable feedback on my extraction.
However, I had a hard time achieving any kind of consistency, which is what this machine is supposed to deliver. The main downside comes from the fact that you aren’t able to remove the portafilter mid-way during grinding to settle the bed of ground coffee. When I tried to do so, I ended up with a big mess.
Don’t get me wrong – I was able to produce some sweet, complex espresso shots. However, all too often the machine left me scratching my head and wondering what had changed.
I should also mention that this machine seems to have a hard time with temperature control. I’d definitely recommend lowering the factory preset temperature and flushing the group head for a few seconds before brewing.
Breville Barista Express Impress Cleaning
When it comes to cleaning and descaling, the Breville Barista Express Impress makes it easy on you. That’s not to say you should slack off, though – espresso quality will diminish noticeably if you don’t take care of a few things.
I recommend rinsing the portafilter baskets after every use. Do yourself a favor and flush the group head after every espresso, too. As for the steam wand, milk residue will build up quickly, so wipe the thing off with a damp cloth after every cappuccino.
Fortunately, the machine will let you know when it’s time for deeper cleaning. For starters, the CLEAN/DESCALE light will flash when you need to backflush. You’ll need to use Breville Cleaning Tablets for this. Simply follow the instructions in the user manual and you’ll have a happy machine!
As for descaling, just because the Barista Express Impress has a water filter doesn’t mean limescale won’t be an issue. In any case, the machine will let you know when it’s time to descale. The process won’t take too long, although you’ll need to keep an eye on things. I always recommend using Durgol Descaler with espresso machines, but it’s best to consult the user manual just in case.
Breville Barista Express Impress Review Specifications
| Breville Barista Express Impress | |
| Manufacturer | Breville |
|---|---|
| Model number | BES876 |
| Product category | Hybrid espresso machine |
| Housing material | Stainless steel |
| Color options | Stainless Steel |
| Milk frother | Steam wand |
| User interface | Buttons and dials |
| App | |
| User profiles | Memo function only |
| Portafilter size | 54 mm |
| Tamping | Automatic |
| Removable water reservoir | |
| Water reservoir capacity | 67.6 fl oz / 2.0 l |
| Number of boilers | 1 |
| Pump pressure | 15 bar |
| Maximum cup height | 4.0 in / 10.2 cm |
| Grinder | Stainless steel conical burr grinder |
| Grind adjustment levels | 25 |
| Bean hopper capacity | 8.8 oz / 250.0 g |
| Specialty drinks | 1 |
| Pre-infusion | |
| Adjustable coffee temperature | |
| Adjustable milk foam temperature | |
| 2-cup function | Yes |
| Hot water function | |
| Hot milk function | |
| Milk foam only option | |
| Water filter | |
| Power consumption | 1850 W |
| Weight | 14.3 lb / 6.5 kg |
| Dimensions | 16.1 x 12.9 x 14.9 in |
| Warranty | 1 year |
| Notes | Included Accessories: Instruction booklet, Magnetic tamper, Trimming tool, Coffee scoop, Milk jug, Water filter and holder, Cleaning supplies. |
| Current price on Amazon | $699.95 |
| All specifications | |
Breville Barista Express Impress vs Other Espresso Machines
I wouldn’t feel good about signing off on this Breville Barista Express Impress review without comparing it to some other machines. So, let’s take a quick look at how the Impress measures up to its competition.
Breville Barista Express Impress vs Breville Barista Touch
Costing $879.95 on Amazon, the Breville Barista Touch is quite a step up price-wise. However, many folks will see the addition of a touchscreen display and automatic steaming as worth the extra investment.
If you’re looking for an espresso machine that’s even closer to a super automatic, the Barista Touch will deliver. Plus, the thermojet heating system is fast and efficient. Personally, I prefer the manual steam wand on the Barista Express Impress, but the Barista Touch will deliver consistent milk foam every time.
See Also: Breville Barista Touch Review
Breville Barista Express Impress vs Breville Barista Express
Even though the Barista Express Impress has been designed as an improvement on the Breville Barista Express, that’s not to say the original doesn’t have loads to offer. Plus, for $699.95, the Barista Express represents a very good value for the money.
You’ll find loads of the same features, although you’ll have to do without the Impress Puck System. What’s more, I found the grinder on the original Barista Express to be rather limiting – I just couldn’t get a consistently fine enough grind size for espresso.
See Also: Breville Barista Express Review
Breville Barista Express Impress vs DeLonghi La Specialista Maestro
Regular Coffeeness readers will know that I’m a huge fan of the DeLonghi La Specialista Maestro. It’ll set you back $1,124.99, but it’s worth every penny.
The DeLonghi is similar to the Breville Barista Express Impress in that it features assisted tamping. You also have the option to use DeLonghi’s automatic LatteCrema system for milk foam. What really sets the La Specialista Maestro apart is its awesome grinder and beautiful user interface. During my hands-on testing I was consistently impressed by how intuitive and easy to use the machine is.
See Also: DeLonghi La Specialista Maestro Review
Breville Barista Express Impress Review vs Others Comparison Chart
| Breville Barista Express Impress | Breville Barista Touch | DeLonghi La Specialista Maestro | |
| Manufacturer | Breville | Breville | De’Longhi |
| Model number | BES876 | BES880BSS1BUS1/BES880BTR1BUS1/BES880DBL1BUS1/BES880BST1BUS1 | EC9665.M |
| Product category | Hybrid espresso machine | Hybrid espresso machine | Hybrid espresso machine |
| Housing material | Stainless steel | Stainless steel | Stainless steel |
| Color options | Stainless Steel | Black Stainless Steel, Black Truffle, Brushed Stainless Steel, Damson Blue | Matte Stainless Steel |
| Milk frother | Steam wand | Steam wand | Integrated carafe and steam wand |
| User interface | Buttons and dials | Touchscreen | Monochromatic LCD with buttons |
| App | |||
| User profiles | Memo function only | Memo function only | Memo function only |
| Portafilter size | 54 mm | 54 mm | 51 mm |
| Tamping | Automatic | Manual | Automatic |
| Removable water reservoir | |||
| Water reservoir capacity | 67.6 fl oz / 2.0 l | 67.6 fl oz / 2.0 l | 67.6 fl oz / 2.0 l |
| Number of boilers | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Pump pressure | 15 bar | 15 bar | 19 bar |
| Maximum cup height | 4.0 in / 10.2 cm | 3.9 in / 9.9 cm | 5.5 in / 14.0 cm |
| Grinder | Stainless steel conical burr grinder | Stainless steel conical burr grinder | Stainless steel conical burr grinder |
| Grind adjustment levels | 25 | 30 | 8 |
| Bean hopper capacity | 8.8 oz / 250.0 g | 8.1 oz / 230.0 g | 8.8 oz / 250.0 g |
| Specialty drinks | 1 | 8 | 6 |
| Pre-infusion | |||
| Adjustable coffee temperature | |||
| Adjustable milk foam temperature | |||
| 2-cup function | Yes | Yes | No |
| Hot water function | |||
| Hot milk function | |||
| Milk foam only option | |||
| Water filter | |||
| Power consumption | 1850 W | 1680 W | 1450 W |
| Weight | 14.3 lb / 6.5 kg | 26.8 lb / 12.2 kg | 35.2 lb / 16.0 kg |
| Dimensions | 16.1 x 12.9 x 14.9 in | 16.0 x 12.5 x 12.7 in | 18.5 x 16.5 x 14.0 in |
| Warranty | 1 year | 2 years | 2 years |
| Notes | Included Accessories: Instruction booklet, Magnetic tamper, Trimming tool, Coffee scoop, Milk jug, Water filter and holder, Cleaning supplies. | Included Accessories: Instruction booklet, Milk jug, Cleaning supplies, Cleaning brush, Trimming tool. | Included Accessories: Instruction booklet, Cleaning supplies, Milk pitcher. |
| Current price on Amazon | $699.95 | $999.95 | $1,124.99 |
| Breville Barista Express Impress | Breville Barista Touch | DeLonghi La Specialista Maestro | |
| Manufacturer | Breville | Breville | De’Longhi |
| Model number | BES876 | BES880BSS1BUS1/BES880BTR1BUS1/BES880DBL1BUS1/BES880BST1BUS1 | EC9665.M |
| Product category | Hybrid espresso machine | Hybrid espresso machine | Hybrid espresso machine |
| Housing material | Stainless steel | Stainless steel | Stainless steel |
| Color options | Stainless Steel | Black Stainless Steel, Black Truffle, Brushed Stainless Steel, Damson Blue | Matte Stainless Steel |
| Milk frother | Steam wand | Steam wand | Integrated carafe and steam wand |
| User interface | Buttons and dials | Touchscreen | Monochromatic LCD with buttons |
| App | |||
| User profiles | Memo function only | Memo function only | Memo function only |
| Portafilter size | 54 mm | 54 mm | 51 mm |
| Tamping | Automatic | Manual | Automatic |
| Removable water reservoir | |||
| Water reservoir capacity | 67.6 fl oz / 2.0 l | 67.6 fl oz / 2.0 l | 67.6 fl oz / 2.0 l |
| Number of boilers | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Pump pressure | 15 bar | 15 bar | 19 bar |
| Maximum cup height | 4.0 in / 10.2 cm | 3.9 in / 9.9 cm | 5.5 in / 14.0 cm |
| Grinder | Stainless steel conical burr grinder | Stainless steel conical burr grinder | Stainless steel conical burr grinder |
| Grind adjustment levels | 25 | 30 | 8 |
| Bean hopper capacity | 8.8 oz / 250.0 g | 8.1 oz / 230.0 g | 8.8 oz / 250.0 g |
| Specialty drinks | 1 | 8 | 6 |
| Pre-infusion | |||
| Adjustable coffee temperature | |||
| Adjustable milk foam temperature | |||
| 2-cup function | Yes | Yes | No |
| Hot water function | |||
| Hot milk function | |||
| Milk foam only option | |||
| Water filter | |||
| Power consumption | 1850 W | 1680 W | 1450 W |
| Weight | 14.3 lb / 6.5 kg | 26.8 lb / 12.2 kg | 35.2 lb / 16.0 kg |
| Dimensions | 16.1 x 12.9 x 14.9 in | 16.0 x 12.5 x 12.7 in | 18.5 x 16.5 x 14.0 in |
| Warranty | 1 year | 2 years | 2 years |
| Notes | Included Accessories: Instruction booklet, Magnetic tamper, Trimming tool, Coffee scoop, Milk jug, Water filter and holder, Cleaning supplies. | Included Accessories: Instruction booklet, Milk jug, Cleaning supplies, Cleaning brush, Trimming tool. | Included Accessories: Instruction booklet, Cleaning supplies, Milk pitcher. |
| Current price on Amazon | $699.95 | $999.95 | $1,124.99 |
Verdict: Breville Barista Express Impress Review
your new best friend!
Breville Barista Express Impress
Even better than the original
Intuitive user interface
Stainless steel conical burr grinder
Assisted tamping
Stainless steel housing
Rather bulky
Limited steam power
Once I’d wrapped up the testing phase of my Breville Barista Express Impress review, I couldn’t help feeling a little disappointed. I feel like Breville’s new dosing and tamping systems work fairly well – they just didn’t defy my limited expectations. With that said, check out my recent review of the Breville Barista Touch Impress to see how the manufacturer has improved things.
Listen, I can definitely see the appeal of the Barista Express Impress. Beginners will quickly be able to produce good espresso without a steep learning curve. Still, I feel like a lot of folks will quickly outgrow this machine and want something more challenging. Then again, Breville has shown that it’s dedicated to improving its machines, which is great to see.
That’s it for my Breville Barista Express Impress review. Have any of you used this machine? Tell me all about your experiences in the comments section!
Breville Barista Express Impress Review FAQ
Breville is an Australian manufacturer known for producing high-quality, well-made appliances.
As long as you’re using high-quality, whole bean coffee, the Breville Barista Express is capable of producing excellent espresso.
Thanks to its intuitive user interface, the Breville Barista Express Impress is very easy to use.
When dialing in your grind settings on the Breville Barista Express Impress, start somewhere in the middle of the grind scale. Depending on how your extraction turns out, make small changes either finer or coarser.
The Breville Barista Express Impress will let you know when it’s time to descale via a light on the user interface.
